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Support The Albany's Theatre Trip For Every Child campaign

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LONDON theatre staff members have embarked on rigorous, military style training, led by the Commando Temple in Deptford to be ready for a loaded, marathon walk, covering 26 miles in just two days and carrying 130kg between them.

This challenge, which takes place on Friday, June 15, 2018, aims to raise £10,000 on GoFundMe enough to take 1,000 primary school children to the theatre.

Over 2,300 children have already benefited from free theatre tickets thanks to a campaign backed by Patrons Noma Dumezweni and Jude Law. The campaign is now expanding to try to give every child in the London Borough of Lewisham a free theatre trip.

A Theatre Trip for Every Child provides free theatre tickets for children in school year 1 in the Borough of Lewisham, one of the worst in the UK for child poverty. 34.7% of Lewisham’s children live in poverty.

The campaign is run by the Albany – an arts centre in Deptford, Lewisham.

Olivier award-winner Noma Dumezweni, who starred as Hermione Granger in the West End and is currently on Broadway performing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child commented:

“Theatre is a collective experience that it’s vital we share with young people because it can have a huge impact on their development and outlook. It’s so important that these children are invited into the theatre with open arms so they know, beyond a doubt, that they are welcome in the theatre and that theatre is for them. I urge you support the GoFundMe in aid of ‘A Theatre Trip For Every Child’. The campaign has already provided so many local children with a potentially life-changing experience at the theatre, but they need your help to reach Every Child in Lewisham, every year!”

Jude Law who grew up in Lewisham commented:

“I’m so proud to be a Patron of A Theatre Trip For Every Child. So far over 2,300 children have benefited from this campaign, many of whom simply would never have been to the theatre otherwise. In order for theatre and the arts to have a special place in young people’s lives, we have to encourage that connection from as early an age as possible. I urge you to support the GoFundMe Dartmoor Challenge and help A Theatre Trip For Every Child reach as many youngsters as possible.”

A Theatre Trip for Every Child aims to improve access to the arts for children across Lewisham from an early age. Those on low incomes often have least access to opportunities in London and that includes arts engagement. Early access to the arts contributes significantly to a child’s development, sparking their curiosity and giving them new perspectives on the world. The campaign centres on the belief that every child should have the opportunity to benefit from that experience.

The campaign has seen children from 40 Lewisham schools attend productions of tutti frutti’s Ugly Duckling and Engine House’s Grandad’s Island.

The campaign targeted schools with the highest proportion of free school meal places (or Pupil Premium) first. Four out of the five schools with over 50% of students eligible for Pupil Premium in the borough have now attended the theatre through the scheme.

To date, 56% of Lewisham Primary Schools have taken advantage of the free tickets. The remaining schools will be offered tickets in the next six months. So no one misses out, the team behind the campaign are working in collaboration with Special Educational Needs schools to tailor the offer to their student’s needs.

Young audiences described the shows they saw and their trip to the theatre as ‘brilliant’, ‘amazing’, ‘great’, ‘wonderful’ and ‘better than the chocolate pancakes I had for breakfast!’